Author
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Fugate, Karen |
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Campbell, Larry |
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Submitted to: Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2002 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Sugarbeet roots contain a number of nonsucrose carbohydrates that co- extract with sucrose during processing. These carbohydrate impurities are present at low concentrations, yet they have a significant impact on sugarbeet root processing quality and sucrose yield. The formation of carbohydrate impurities during postharvest storage of sugarbeet roots was examined in roots suffering from root rot at time of harvest. Severely rotted roots had significantly more invert sugar than healthy roots. Trisaccharide impurities, however, were reduced in severely diseased roots. The invert sugar concentration of both healthy and diseased roots changed little with time in storage. The trisaccharide impurities, however, declined during storage in healthy and diseased roots. Technical Abstract: The impact of root disease on the accumulation of carbohydrate impurities during sugarbeet storage was examined. Field grown sugarbeet roots exhibiting varying degrees of root rot at time of harvest were stored at 4oC and 95% relative humidity for 18 and 85 days. Roots exhibiting symptoms of severe root rot had significantly elevated concentrations of glucose and fructose, and a significantly reduced concentration of trisaccharide impurities. Raffinose was the major trisaccharide present, regardless of the severity of root rot symptoms or time in storage, and was the only trisaccharide evident in healthy sugarbeet roots. Severely rotted roots also contained the trisaccharides, 1-kestose and 6-kestose. The duration of storage had little impact on root glucose and fructose concentrations regardless of the severity of root rot symptoms. Trisaccharide content, however, declined during storage in both healthy and ddiseased roots. |
